Born 12 September 1919. Entered U.S.Army 13 October 1941 completing
basic training in the Corps of Engineers, Ft. Belevoir, VA. Tranferred to U.S.
Army Air Corps and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 13 May 1943
after graduation from Bombardier training at San Angelo, Texas. Was assigned to
the 359th BS on 28 May 1943 as Bombardier on the Lt Harold S. Bolsover
Crew. His first mission was flown on 16 November 1943.

On 28 February 1944, as a First Lieutenant, was shot down on his 13th
mission. to Bois Coqueral, France - A "Crossbow" target (German Missle Launching site) in the
Pas De Calais area. Three crew members were blown out of his B-17 when it
exploded and three other died in the crash of the B-17 near Translay, 13 km SW
of Abbeville, France. Was captured by a German squad and three days later
escaped. Evaded through France, climbed the Pyrenees Mountains, and returned
to Allied control on 6 June 1944 and back to Molesworth on 21 June 1944. The
navigator, 2Lt B.F. Clark became a POW. S/Sgt N. Avestos (LWG) also evaded
capture and made his return on 17 May 1944.

Was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action on November 26, 1943
while on a bombing mission to Bremen and a Distinguished Flying Cross on the 20
February 1944 mission to Leipzig, Germany for extraodinary achievment while
serving as the 303rd BG(H) Lead Crew Bombardier. See Lead Crew photos for Missions 88, 100 and 109.

In 1945 married Patricia O'Brien of Corona, NY. Completed advanced
navigation, radar and bombing training in 1948. Retired as a LtColonel; in USAF
in 1968. Has seven chgildren, 11 grandchgildren and resides in Rockledge, FL